Paper tape moistener and cutter



v March 3, 1936. L. A. WESTBO 2,032,643

PAPER TAPE MOISTENER AND CUTTER Filed Sept. 29, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l ......-....-,..,..v 7 I f I f l I I g 2/ i Zea/lard H h/eJ/AO March 3, 1936. L, A WESTB 2,032,643-

PAPER TAPE MOISTENER AND CUTTER Filed Sept. 29, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [e oryayrc/ Way/A0 Patented Mar. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- Application September 7 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for moistening the gummed side of paper tape and for cutting said tape. The objects of the invention are, first, to provide a machine which will hold one or more rolls of paper tape of various widths; second, which will provide a resistance to the unwinding of the tape roll; third, which will moisten the gummed side of the paper tape; fourth, which provides a serrated knife whereby the paper tape may be easily torn when the required length of tape has been drawn from the machine; fifth, which mounts said knife so that when it is used to cut the paper, it is drawn outward from its normal position, by the paper, and is held thereby at an advantageous cutting position; sixth, wherein the cut edge of the paper is held at a point within the machine and in a position convenient to be grasped by the hand of the next user; seventh, wherein the knife is mounted on a swinging frame which cannot be moved outward beyond the normal position but which may be swung inward by the hand of the user in order that the fingers may grasp the front edge of the paper tape; eighth, wherein the knife swings inward from said frame to remove its serrated edge away from danger of contact with the fingers thus grasping the tape; ninth, wherein the first contact of the fingers with the swinging knife unlatches the swinging frame from its normal locked position and permits it to be swung inward; and tenth, to provide a machine which is cheap and simple to make, easy and safe to operate, and which will efiectively moisten the gummed surface of the paper tape and cut the tape at the required point.

I attain these and other objects by the devices, mechanisms, and arrangements illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Fig. l is a side elevation, partly in section, showing my improved machine, the parts being in the positions occupied thereby when a hand is grasping the forward edge of the paper tape; Fig. 2 is a view of parts thereof, showing the tape being moistened and drawn out from the machine; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the tape being cut by the knife; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the machine, showing two rolls of tape mounted therein; Fig. 5 is a section showing the mounting of the roll of paper tape; and Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a part of the machine.

Similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The frame of the machine is adapted to be secured to a suitable base and comprises the two side plates l, secured together by means of three 29, 1933, Serial No. 691,514

cross bolts or bars 2, 3, and 4, suitably secured to each side plate I. Each of said bolts or bars has an additional function in relation to the paper tape, as hereinafter described. The frame plates l are provided in the inner sides of their rear extensions with a series of notches 5 adapted to receive and hold the base bar 6 of the roll holders 1.

The base bar 6 is cylindrical and is provided with spaced holes 8 adapted to receive pins to 1 prevent the lateral motion of the roll holders 1 thereon, said holes being spaced to permit the holders 5 to receive rolls of tape 9 of several difierent widths, as desired.

The roll holders l comprise two similar but complementary plates provided with a flat base It adapted to rest on the table when they are not in use or when it is desired to mount a new roll of tape in them, and extend upward to receive and hold the roll shaft. The upper ends of these holders l are provided with upwardly opening jaws II adapted to receive and hold the roll shaft l2. A hook i3 is mounted on the upper end of the holder 1 and is adapted to hook over' the said shaft l2 to hold it securely in the jaws H. A spring I4 draws the hook l3 down on the said shaft l2.

The shaft I2 passes freely through a metal centering hub l5 (Fig. 5) which is driven into the wooden core N5 of the roll of tape 9. Thus the roll is supported at its axial center.

The above-mentioned frame bar 2 extends across the upper part of the machine in front of the roll holders 1 and is so positioned as to permit the roll of tape 9 to rest thereon when the holders 1 are tipped forward. This bar 2 therefore supports a part of the weight of the roll and acts as a brake against the free turning of the roll on the shaft I2 and, therefore, acts as a resistance to the pull on the tape 9 when it is being drawn out, thereby permitting cutting pressure to be brought against the knife when the paper tape is raised into contact therewith.

A freely turning roller l1 extends across the machine below the roll of tape 9, and is provided with suitable end trunnions l8 mounted in notches IS in the two side frame plates I (Figs; 1 and 4).

The frame bar 3 is positioned forward of and slightly higher than the roller IT. The frame bar 4 is positioned forward of and higher than the said frame bar 3.

A water pan 20 is mounted between lugs 2| and 22 on' the two side frame plates I. This pan 20 extends across the front of the machine and is adapted to receive the water to' be used in moistening the gummed surface of the paper. A moistening cylinder 23 is provided with trunnions 24 resting in notches 25 in the side frames I of the machine, and dips in the water contained in the pan 2B and carries a film of moisture with it as it is turned. A plate 26 covers the rear of the pan and retards the evaporation of the water therein.-

The tape 9 is taken from the roll at a point above the bar 2 and passes, forward of said bar, downward to the rear of and around the roller 1, thence over the bar 3 and under the bar 4. When the tape 9 has been cut by the knife the resilience and stiffness thereof draws it back from the knife, leaving its front edge lying slightly forward of said bar 4 (Fig. l) and above the moistening cylinder 23, and, therefore, in a convenient position to be grasped by the fingers. The

front edge is held in this position by the fact that.

it is bent down over the bar 3. When this front edge is grasped by the hand, as hereinafter described, it is' drawn forward in contact with the upper surface of the moistening cylinder 23 (Fig. 2), whereby its under surface, which is coated with an adhesive, is dampened, turning the cylinder 3- as itis drawn out of the machine.

The knife 2! is supported, as hereinafter described, across the front of the machineby means of two vertically'swinging levers 28, pivoted at 40 at their lower ends to the inner sides of the two side plates I of the frame. The upper ends of the levers 28 are provided with suitable bosses 29 into which the carrier rod 30 is secured, said rod extending across the front of the machine between the two said arms or levers 28. On each end of the rod 30, immediately adjacent the said bosses 29 of the arms 28, I mount a knife-hook 3| which extends rearward from the rod 30 and hooks over the frame bar 2. Each said hook 3| has a deep indent 32 adapted to receive the said bar 2 and to prevent the forward or rearward movement of the rod 30.so long as the bar 2 lies within the said indents 32 of the two said hooks. The nose or tip 33 of each hook 3| extends considerably below the level of the bar 2 thereby insuring that the rod 30 will not fall beyond its normal forward position. A pair of separated lugs or stops 34 and 35 extend down from the boss of the hook 3| below the rod 30. The rearward lug 34 is adapted to be engaged by the knife-carrier to raise the hook 3| out of engagement with the bar 2 to permit the knife to be pushed rearward. The forward stop 35 is adapted to be engaged by the knifecarrierand to prevent it and the knife from being swung forward of the cutting position by pressing the hook 3| firmly down on the bar 2. When the paper tape 9 is being cut (Fig. 3) by the knife the rod 30 is thus firmly latched or locked against forward or rearward motion. A knife-carrier 36 comprises a plate supported loosely from the rod 30 by'means of two or more ears 3! through which the rod 30 freely passes. The plate 36 lies be tween the aboveidescribed lugs 34 and 35, at each end, and it is free to be brought into contact with either of'them, but normal y it hangs vertically between them (Fig. 2)

The knife 27 is made of a piece of saw, with its teeth downward, and is removably secured to the carrier-plate 36 by means of screws 38. The rear surface 39 of the knife 21 may be ground to sharpen the teeth of the saw to points, thereby assisting the cutting and tearing action of the knife on the paper tape 9 when it is brought into forcible contact therewith (Fig. 3).

Thus it will be seen that, when it is desired to draw tape from the machine, the operators fingers are pushed against the carrier-plate 36, thereby swinging it inward on the rod 30 into contact with the lugs 34, thereby raising the hooks 3| so that the indents 32 are removed from the bar 2, thus releasing the rod 38 from its locked position. Further pressure of the fingers swings the arms 28 rearward until they strike the bar 4 (Fig. 1) at which point the front edge of the tape lies exposed and in easy access to be grasped by the fingers without danger of contact with the serrated edge of the knife. The tape 9 is then brought downward into contact with the topof the cylinder 23 and is drawn outward (Fig. 2) and its under, or gummed, surface is moistened. When sufiicient tape has been thus drawn out from the machine, the tape is raised, while still maintaining sufficient tension thereon, into con-- tact with the knife 21 which is thereby swung forward (Fig. 3) into cutting position and the paper tapeis cut thereby. The front cut edge then springs back to a position behind the knife (Fig. l) asabove described. The reactive forceopposing the tension on the paper, necessary to apply the cutting pressure thereon, is provided by the braking action of the bar 2 on the roll of tape 9. The strength of this braking action may be variedby moving the base bar 6 into one or another of the several notches 5 in the side plates 5;:

of the machine, thereby altering the angle of the holders 1 and the relative positions of the shaft 2 and the bar 2.

In practice when two rolls of tape are used in the same machine, separate shafts |2 are used.

(Fig. 4.)

It is evident that many variations in the details of my machine may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention as outlined in the appended claims.

It has been the common practice, heretofore, to drive'the shaft through the hole in the wooden core |5-of the roll of tape. This practice resulted in the end of the shaft becoming swedged to a larger diameter, resulting in the necessity of frequent renewals of the shaft, while in my machine, the shaft |2 passes freely through the metal hubs l5, which hubsengage the wood of the core and also engage the outside of the; roll. These hubs |5 are easily renewable as theybecome worn.

It has also been common practice, to, support the rolls directly from the frame of themachine. Such a support provided no flexibility in the support and resulted in the tape leaving or overhanging the edge of the roll and even doubling overthe side, when a long strip of tape was pulled from the machinewith the direction of the pull slightly to one side. But, in my machine, the roll is not supported directly by the rigid frame but by the holders 1 which are loosely secured to the bar 6 and can therefore weave slightly, thereby permitting the pressure of the roll on the bar 2 to be uniform across the face of the roll. The resultof this arrangement is that the tape can be unrolled from my machine quickly and continuously without either edge overhangingthe edge of the roll, even when the pull is considerably towards one side.

Also difficulty has been experienced heretofore, when a serrated knife, was used, that the paper leftin the machine, the front edge of which is moistened, is very likely to stick in the interstices between theteeth of the knife, makingit difficult to securea hold on the edge, but in my machine, if the paper should happen to sticktotheknife,

the backward swing of the knife by the fingers would press the paper backward and upward and bend it upward at the bar 4 and apply sufficient force to snap it out of the teeth of the knife and leave it directly in the grasp of the fingers as it flips down from the knife.

Having therefore, described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In a tape cutter, the combination with a main frame adapted to hold a roll of tape; friction means adapted to retard the unrolling of the tape; a knife frame pivotally mounted on said main frame; a hook mounted on said knife frame and extending rearward to engage a portion of the main frame, and adapted to lock said knife frame in normal position; a knife loosely swung on said knife frame; and a stop adapted to prevent the knife from excessive forward swing.

2. In a tape cutter as set forth in claim 1, wherein said knife frame comprises a pair of arms pivotally secured to said main frame; and said locking hook releasably engages a portion of the main frame.

3. In a tape cutter, the combination with a main frame, adapted to hold a roll of tape; friction means adapted to retard the unrolling of the tape; a pair of complementary arms pivoted at their lower ends to the two sides of the main frame; a rod rigidly connecting the upper ends of said two arms; hooks mounted on the ends of said rod and extending rearward and adapted to engage a portion of said main frame; rearward extending lugs extending from said hooks adjacent said rod; a knife bar hanging from said rod and adapted to be swung into engagement with said lugs to raise the hooks out of engagement with the main frame to permit said knife bar to be moved bodily rearward in said main frame.

4. In a tape cutter as set forth in claim 3, together with forward extending lugs extending from said hooks adjacent said rod and adapted to be engaged by said knife bar when drawn forward to firmly press said hooks in engagement with said main frame.

5. In a tape holder, the combination with a main frame; a series of complementary notches formed on the inner side of each side of said frame; a base bar adapted to lie in any pair of said notches; a pair of roll holders loosely mounted on said base bar, whereby they are permitted a limited relative weaving motion; and means whereby a roll of tape may be supported by the ends of said roll holders.

6. A tape holder as set forth in claim 5, wherein said means to hold a roll of tape comprises jaws formed on the ends of said roll holders; a

pair of centering hubs adapted to enter the core of the roll of tape; and a shaft passing centrally through said centering hubs and extending therefrom and adapted to lie in the jaws of said roll holders.

'7. A tape holder as set forth in claim 5, wherein said means to hold a roll of tape comprises jaws formed on the free ends of said roll holders; a pair of centering hubs adapted to enter the core of the roll of tape; and a shaft passing centrally through said centering hubs and extending therefrom and adapted to lie in the jaws of said roll holders; together with a pair of spring-actuated hooks mounted on said roll holders and adapted to engage said shaft to firm- 1y hold it in said jaws.

LEONARD A. WES'IBO. 

